August is Black Philanthropy Month, a celebration of the Black community’s deep commitment to giving and a reminder of how philanthropy has the power to transform lives.
For too long, “philanthropy” was a term only used for ultra wealthy — and usually white — benefactors whose names ended up on museums, universities, hospitals and other civic institutions.
But throughout history, the time, talent and treasure of the Black community have transformed lives and shaped a brighter future for us all.
Nearly two thirds of Black households in America make charitable contributions each year, according to a Lilly Family School of Philanthropy report in 2021. This report about diversity in philanthropy also found that more than half of Black households volunteered their time each year.
The numbers reflect a spirit of giving that comes as no surprise to the Black community. Giving back to help others to better the community is a value passed down through generations and ingrained in the lives of Black families today.
In my family, it was my father, W. George Allen, whose lifelong commitment to breaking down barriers and helping others succeed inspired our commitment to giving back to the community.
My father persevered through segregated schools to graduate from Florida A&M University and then he became the first Black student to earn a law degree from the University of Florida. During his 50-year legal career, he was actively involved in legal fights for civil rights and he filed lawsuits that helped desegregate public schools in Broward County and Hendry County. Throughout his life, he championed philanthropy, and that included serving as a member of the Community Foundation of Broward’s Board of Directors.
To honor our father’s wishes to continue giving back to the community he loved, my brother Timothy Allen and I, in 2020, partnered with the Community Foundation to create endowed scholarships to empower future generations of students to make the most of their educational opportunities. To write our own chapter in the family’s legacy of philanthropy, my brother and I have committed to creating a future endowment at the Community Foundation that will provide another sustainable source of charitable funds to help more students succeed.
Today, I’m proud to follow in my father’s footsteps by serving on the Community Foundation Board of Directors. At the foundation, I get a firsthand view of the enduring impact of local philanthropists who have established endowments, which are carefully invested over time to produce grants that support their charitable passions forever. This includes Black philanthropists such as former Sanders Park Elementary School Principal Runette Williams, who created an endowed scholarship fund that has helped local students seek higher education for nearly 30 years. In addition, former educators and activists Margaret and Cato Roach established an endowment that has helped middle school students achieve success in the classroom. Also, musician and music producer Emridge “E.J.” Jones Jr. established an endowment that sends youth to jazz camps and supports incorporating the arts into afterschool programs. These Black philanthropists established initiatives decades ago that still benefit our community today.
This summer, New Mount Olive Baptist Church, where I serve as a deacon, added to the proud tradition of local Black philanthropy by partnering with the Community Foundation to launch a faith-based endowment. The New Mount Olive Baptist Church “Be a Blessing” Fund creates a permanent source of support for the church’s work to make a lasting impact in the lives of people in our community.
Black philanthropists in Broward and beyond are making a lasting difference each and every day through their commitment and generosity to give.
From Black billionaires to former school principals like Runette Williams, “philanthropy” means using our time, talent and treasure to “pay it forward.” It’s an empowering opportunity to create a legacy of lasting impact that will make life better for generations to come.
Jonathan Allen serves on the Community Foundation of Broward Board of Directors. The foundation helps local philanthropists create a lasting impact through the power of endowment. To learn more, contact the Community Foundation at info@cfbroward.org or 954-761-9503.
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